NH TD75 or Kubota M7040

[MessickFarmEqu]

Planetarys also run at angles better so you can have tighter steering angles.

My comments reguarding orange for loader work and blue for farm chores are broad generalizations. If you look at what these companies do it makes sense.. New Holland is a farm company, Kubota is a loader / landscaper machine. Thats the perspective that they build tractors from. You'll be happy with either in both applications, thats just where they excel.

 

[slowzuki]

I'll modify what you're saying about planetaries Neil, in the rear is where most people are concerned.

In the front, they are placed outboard of the steering knuckles to provide the final reduction allowing the axles, u-joints and ring gears to be smaller. The steering angle is limited by the u-joint as the strength falls off very fast when at extreme angles.

Spur gear drives known as portals are not common in the North American market for front axles. They are used in many Russian designs as well as the Unimog. They too are limited in turning angle by the u-joint and offer some final reduction to save on axle sizes. They have the side effect of raising the centreline of the axle relative to the wheel so the axle is fitted close to the belly of the engine and smallish tires are used.

The axle used in the Kubotas and many compacts is similar to the portals but there are no u-joints and the steering angles can be extremely sharp without binding. The powerflow is transmitted down the axis of the kingpin to the wheel with two bevel gear reductions on the way. In ag size machines you will notice the wheel sizes on the front of a Kubota is smaller for the same crop clearance. This can be a problem and a help. The wheels don't foul the loader even with high oscillation in rough ground. The narrow wheel spacings can still turn sharp without hitting the frame etc. The drawbacks are you need to run a wider tire to avoid sinking in in wet ground.